The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-17
AWAY UP The MISSISSIPPI
FARMS THAT PRODUCE HUN
DREDS or BALES ANNUALLY.
Richardson's Lanuing - BicksOn's
StOre-Squares Forming on
Cotton Rapidly.
IoonREsroSDHScE OF rHH ArpxAL.l

1
east, after crossing the "wire road
(which is 80 called from telegraph,
connection between Randolph snC
Memphis at the beginning Of the war
you next descend Sugar creek hill
entering fit area skirted by high
bluffs, as the rosd winds westward
Ger crystal streams OF water witt
pebbly bottoms. The road being leve
no pleasanter drive through the denIe
shade, with picturesque scenery, the
rugged sides Of the bluff jutting out te
the road, can be found. Black rock ID
here in abundance, covered with moss
ferns and other vege' alion, and fine
springs also, which gurge out theil
clear water, finding the way into
Sugar creek, and emptying with il
d Tally into the great river.
This rock might be utilized for
building foundations and other pur-
poees, could be had in large quantities,
and Is convenient to the river. But
at er you wind along the road several
miles there ia presented to view,
where the line OF hills terminate tina,
run south, mott pleasing and inter
esting sight, as your eyes are strained
to encompass the vast stretch of cot
ton farms b re your eyes. The road
turns noTthward, running ong the
foot OF the bluff 10 its abrupt termina.
ton at the river, which point Is the
naIrowest and deepest on the Missis-
sippi, and you again turn west, 20
half mile further to Richardson
Landing. This place, scarcely vii.
lsgs, took its name from Edward Rich.
aidsoD, once the greatest cotton king
OF America, except Gordon, Of Gsor.
gia, There was boat named for him
also, which ran the river about 1860.
This farm was sold by him to Mr.. Pal
iner, of Oovington, whose heirs now
own 1t. A sIore, posto flee, steam
gin, and everything belonging to ex.
tensive river farming are here. There
Is nearly six hundred acres in cultiva-
ton at present in the finest condition
ever known before, with prospective
cotton blooming in abundance by the
l4th instant.
Here, to- ., is the Fl sh industry, which,
though comparatively insignificant to
the extensive Fl :heries Est, vet num-
bers Of fish wagons peddle them
through the hills and supply the dense
population at very low rates. The
supply increases yearly, the demand
becomes greater and eventually fish
out Of the river will be considered q
part of the yearly supplies. There ia
a way to keep them if the trade should
be extensively increased in the future.
There was once very fine residence
here with the corresponding ont
houses and other appendagee, but
where this stood Ia now over midway
the river. At least 400 yards Of land
has fallen in the river since Mr.. Rich.
ardsDn owned it, the gradual falling in
continuing 80 steadily that buildings
are moved in yearly. Next to this ID
the Wallace farm, owned by John Nc.
Laughlin, of Atoka, Of 300 acres in cul
tivRtion, which with the Richardson
farm has been rented by Hunt & Bro.
formerly of Memphis, several years
Next on down the river is the Dicker.
ION plat e, over 200 acres; next the
Payne place, about 200 acres; the n the
Sullivan place, nearly zoo acres
next is Cedar Point aud H M
Turnage's place, both extern
sive farms; then SiGler's, all
Just above, along and below the chute
If Island 80. Pecan Point, Idaho
Golden Lake aud Turnage Landing
are on the opposite side OF Island 35,
or the Arkansas shore, back Of which
places are the most extensive cotton
farms of the richest quality of lands.
Dickens's Store, two miles below
here, does good busin ess, but this
place is the principal trading point
from the hills, from whence produce
of different kinds is brought and
shipped. The lumber and log bust
ness here has been on larger scale
for the last three years than any other
place on the river. The poplar lum-
Der and logs are brought from the
hills, where mills on large scale are
constantly seen. Over 200 bales OF
cotton were shipped the last season.
Islands 80 and "a, between which is
this point, are each about two miles
wide, the former eight miles and the
latter five miles long. On 35 there is
as much in cotton IS "a, which now
cultivates about 1000 acres, mostly in
cotton. Hundreds OF acres have fal
len into the river on these islands, at
Morgsn's Point and all along tie Ar
kansas shore, as we'll as at this point.
UD above here on the bluffs, about
nine years ago at least ten acres at one
time slid into the river on the
Coward farm. 1t seemed to the citi.
zens that an earthquake was about to
swallow up the immediate vicinity.
Five acres slid in up there two
weeks ago. Up and down The river
here are some very good houses, many
of them occupied by white people.
When man out In the hills is anxious
to make few hundred dollars in a
short time he comes down here and,
putting in large crop OF cotton, eoon
gets up in the world. Many have got.
ten a start in this way. Most of the
population Is colored. Then on the
Richardson farm their dwellings are
mainly at the foot OF the bills, where
there are good springs, and also out
let's for their stock. They have their
church and schools, their picnics, fes
rivals, singing societies and other 60
cial enjoyments, and seem prosperous
and contented. Their wants are lib
orally supplied from the store, and
the Messrs. Hunt Bros. seem to have
their good will and confidence. They
make money. To defraud the negro
ia great wrong. Where this is moi
done they are generally a permanent
in regard to labor on cotton farms
And, in this connection, it may be
suggestive to add another noticeable
fact. Since Cleveland has been Presi.
dent very little strife has sprung up
between the two races throughout
this country; and when anything Of
the kind does crop out, some low
down white man, pretending to be
their political friend, superinduces
the discomfort by urging great
imaginary wrongs hs points out to
them. However, this dastardly re-
sort has become almost contemptuous
and besides, the colored people are
convinced that such men now do not
understand the situation down South.